Indicator for pianos or organs



(No Model.\ 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. W. BLASIUS.

INDICATOR FOR PIANOS OR ORGANS.

No. 403,906. Patented May 28. 1889.

FIG 1 FIG 2 FIG 3 2 SheetsSheet 2.

Patented May 28. 1889.

FIG. 6'

INVENTORY L. W. BLASIUS. INDICATOR FOR PIANOS 0R ORGANS.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVIN IV. BLASIUS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

INDICATOR FOR PIANOS OR ORGIANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,906, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed October 16, 1888. Serial No. 288,277. (No model.)

T0 00% 2072 0120 it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVIN IV. BLAsIUs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pianos, Organs, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, due reference being had to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification. 7

The object of my invention is to provide a music-scale above the key-board of a piano or organ with provision for removing it from sight when desired, while at the same time it is permanently attached to or forms a permanent part of the piano or organ.

In carrying out my invention I provide the piano with a scale above the head of the keys in any suitable manner, so that it shall form part of the instrument proper. I also provide a movable part, which may be operated by hand to cause the scale to be concealed or exposed.

It is immaterial to my invention what the details of construction may be.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of the key-slip of the piano back of the keys, with. the cover closed down to hide the musicscale. Fig. 2 is a similar view from the other end, with the cover thrown back to expose the scale. Fig. is a transverse section through the key-board portion of a piano embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same with part removed. Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view of a modification of same; and Fig. 6 is a cross-section of part of Fig. 5, showing the scale thrown back out of sight.

A is the outside casing of the piano.

1% is the key-slip extendin across the piano.

0 are the keys.

I) is the usual keyboard cover.

E is a pivoted curved cover connected at the,

end to the segmental plates F, Figs. 1 and 2, which plates are pivoted to the key-slip B or outside casing at f. The front part of the key-slip has a surface, g, adapted to be covered up by drawing the curved cover E over it, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, and upon this surface is marked a surface-scale, G, indicat ing the designation of the keys immediately in front, and also the position of the tones produced by them upon the staff in written music. The scale is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. \Vh en the cover E is drawn forward and down to the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, it is evident that the scale is completely covered up and only the surface of the curved cover is seen. On the other hand, when a student is studying music the curved coverE may be thrown back to expose the scale.

In place of marking the scale upon the keyslip B, it may be placed upon the upper sun face of the curved cover E, as indicated in Fig. 5, in which case the movement of the curved part or cover E will expose or conceal the scale from view. In this construction the scale is concealed from view by the outside casing, A, when the part- E is thrown back. The only difference between these two constructions is that the scale in one case is exposed when the movable covered part E is thrown back, and in the other case when it is thrown forward. In both cases, however, the movement of the part E is required to expose or conceal the scale.

My invention, broadly considered, comprehends both of these constructions.

I do not limit myself to the mere details of configuration. given to the parts, as it is evident that they may be considerably modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a piano, a scale permanently or securely attached thereto immediately above the keys and constituting a part of the instrument, and a movable part of the piano structure adapted to be moved for concealing or exposing said scale.

2. A piano provided with a scale and having a portion. of its casing movable for concealing or exposing said scale.

A piano provided with a scale and having a pivoted curved portion of its outsideeasing immediately in front of the keys movable for concealing or exposing said scale.

4:. In a piano, the outside casing, A, having the key-slip B, in combination with the curved cover E, adapted to be moved forward or backward.

5. Ina piano, the outside casing, A, having In testimony of which invention I have the key-slip B, in combination with the curved hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Penn cover E, adapted to be moved backward and sylvania, this 15th day of October, A. D. 1888. forward over the key-slip and pivoted at each 5 end by plates F. 1 LEVIN BLASIUS. 6, In a piano,the outside casing, A, having the key-s1ip B, having a scale, G, upon the Vitnesses: front face, in combination with the curved RICHD. S. CHILD, J 1 cover E, adapted to be moved backward or ABNER J. DAVIS. 10 forward over the key-slip. r 

